U.S. Army's Watervliet Arsenal's November 2014 newsletter: The Salvo

U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal

Nov. 30, 2014

THE SALVO

Hands of my ancestorsStory on Page 3

Page 2 Salvo Nov. 30, 2014

The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessarily the official views of, or an endorse-ment by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Watervliet Arsenal. News may be submitted for publication by sending articles to Public Affairs Officer, 1 Buffington Street, Bldg. 10, Watervliet, NY 12189, or stop by office #102, Bldg. 10, Watervliet Arsenal. The editor may also be reached at (518) 266-5055 or by e-mail: [email protected]. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted for publication.

Commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.Public Affairs Officer, John B. SnyderEditor, John B. SnyderPhotographer: John B. Snyder Arsenal Facebook Page @http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm Photo credit for page 3

ColonelLee H. Schiller Jr.

CommandingManufacturer 6

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Wikipedia.com

Timing is everything as evidenced by putting away our parade bunting and floats just prior to winter weather descending upon us. I greatly thank all the volunteers who had a hand in either building the floats, marching, driving, or by providing other critical support to our parade contingent in this month’s Albany Veterans Day Parade. Once again, we led the parade in Division One and I could not have been more proud than to march in front of our workforce and our equipment. While preparations were being made for the parade, we were very busy behind the scenes in trying to bring workload to the arsenal, and we are starting to see some very positive signs. In just one week in mid-November, we signed contracts valued at more than $5 million. In addition to those contracts, we have been working overtime visiting customers and higher headquarters in a grand effort to bring additional work to Watervliet. Suffice it for me to say that there are a lot of eyes on us right now. Everything we do is under scrutiny as those who have the financial ability to award work are closely watching our on-time delivery rates, our quality, as well as our pricing before they commit millions of dollars in new contracts. This is where the rank and file of the workforce comes in. As hard as the arsenal’s senior leaders are selling the arsenal’s manufacturing capability and capacity to manufacture defense-related equipment to weapon program managers, all that will be for naught if we don’t follow through on our current work. Each worker here directly or indirectly influences future

workload. We must maintain our on-time delivery rate to better than 97 percent, without lessening our commitment to high quality. In all operations, we must be extremely agile by responding quickly to any new requirements that affect our work areas, as well as look at ways to become more efficient in what we currently do. Finally, we must be viewed as a team of teams. Nothing impresses our visitors more, who are often those who award work, than a visible display of teamwork and an intense sense of pride. Whether or not new work is awarded in the next few months, the one thing that we cannot lose site on is our safety. Heavy manufacturing is by its nature dangerous work. But having said that, most of our accidents are not caused by our machining. So, as we enter this holiday season I need each of you to take great care while at home and at work to ensure that you remain an active and valued part of our operations.

mailto:[email protected]


By John B. Snyder & John Zayhowski

Story continues on page 4, Micmac

Skilled worker Returns to his Native American Roots

Before there were cities, manufacturing centers, and yes, before Disney World, this great land of ours was nurtured and loved by a proud people who today we call Native Americans. For anyone who may recall their grade school les-sons in early American history, know quite well that one of the remarkable attributes of Native Americans was their ability to live off the land by creating life-saving and life-improving tools with their hands. While today’s society is no longer rich in such skills, it doesn’t mean that those skills ̶ creating tools and products from scratch ̶ have been lost through generations of convenience. At least not at

the Watervliet Arsenal. Although the arsenal is rich with skilled artisans who can machine a solid, hollow tube into a firing cannon that can send a round more than 20 miles into enemy territory, it remains deficient in having a large Native American presence in its workforce. After all, less than one percent of the arsenal workforce are of Native American decent and so, it was difficult this American Indian Heritage Month to find someone with such rich history. But we did. Machinist James White traces his heritage back to his great-great-grandmother who was sold off the

Machinist James White traces his ancestry to the First Nations tribe of Micmac people who lived in structures called wigwams. The term “First Nations” is predominately a Canadian reference to indigenous peoples of Canada. In the United States, the term “Native American” or “American Indian” is widely used. In the left photo is the Micmac people in Canada circa 1871.


Micmac Cont.Micmac Indian reservation in Nova Scotia during the late 1800s and relocated to the United States. The Micmac and or Mi’kmaq Nation once controlled northern New England and parts of Canada. Today, many Micmac people still live on the Canadian side of the border. Shortly after arriving in the United States, White’s great-great-grandmother ran away from her owner and found her way to Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. She was again a free woman. White said that he has no clue how his great-great-grandmother ended up in the late 1800s in a part of New York City that was predominately of Irish decent. But, as food for thought, it may be that because the Micmac tribe was semi-nomadic that White’s great-great-grandmother was, by heritage, amendable to adapting to new lands, such as Hell’s Kitchen. Unlike his great ancestors, White did not grow up learning how to use his hands to create the tools

that would put food on the table. But he did have a grandmother who was working at the arsenal and it would be her that planted the seed that would some-day return White to his roots. In 2009, White joined the arsenal’s apprentice program and during the program’s four years of train-ing and education, he not only learned how to design products, he also learned how to machine a raw piece of steel into a product that makes our troops more survivable on the battlefield. White said that it is kind of cool to think about how the skills of his ancestors and his machinist skills are in some way connected. As Native Ameri-cans leveraged their hand skills to live off the land, White is leveraging his hand skills to provide for his family. White is a good example of what has made Amer-ica and the Micmac tribe so great. He makes things. With great appreciation and respect, the Watervliet Arsenal honors this American Indian Heritage Month those who were and still are the builder of things, the makers of life, and the nurturers of land.

November is ...National American Indian Heritage Month

The 2010 Census showed that the U.S. population on April 1, 2010, was 308.7 million. Out of the total U.S. population, 2.9 million people, or 0.9 percent, were American Indian and Alaska Native alone. In addition, 2.3 million people, or another 0.7 per-cent, reported American Indian and Alaska Native in combination with one or more other races. Together, these two groups totaled 5.2 million people. Thus, 1.7 percent of all peo-ple in the United States identified as American Indian and Alaska Native, either alone or in combination with one or more other races.

high school. About 25 students from Cambridge High School spent four hours weaving their way through such sci-entific areas as metallurgy, lasers, nanotechnology, and stereolithography, said Stephen Robertson, a Benét Labs mechanical engineer-ing technician who coordi-nated the visit with Cam-bridge. The students are part of two classes, physics and principles of engineering, that have seen a resurgence of interest of late. “Cambridge visited be-cause the timing was right in that these students are currently learning the prin-ciples of engineering,” Rob-ertson said. “And so, what better place to learn about science and engineering than from the Army’s re-

search center where we daily act on someone’s good idea by taking that idea from conception to building a prototype to the final pro-duction of a product.” But Robertson would be one of the first to ac-knowledge that, just like in product design and de-velopment, Benét was planting a seed that may take

Page 5 Salvo Nov. 30 2014

Army researchers take on the tough task of explaining ‘conception’ - of a good idea -

to high school students

Photos by John B. Snyder

By John B. Snyder

A sense of discovery delights the scientists and engineers who design the U.S. military’s large caliber weapon systems, but this effort may be for naught if they cannot explain their achievements in simple, clear language to those who do not have a Ph.D. in sci-ence and engineering. The team at the Army’s Benét Laboratories fully understands this challenge, especially in an era of de-clining defense budgets where the level of competi-tion for new contracts has not declined in step with the significant decline in requirements over the past few years. And so, they view every engagement, every visitor to their laboratories as an in-vestment in time to educate and to transmit their vision of what the future can be. What was special about the visitors this month is that they were not weapon program managers or de-fense contractors wanting to learn about the latest in weapon technology. No, there would be no potential funding for work requirements coming out of this visit. Nevertheless, this engagement was still viewed by Benét as an investment, albeit an investment that will take years to pay off. After all, the visitors are still in Story continues on page 6, Cambridge


Cambridge Cont.

years to grow. “To continue our success in research and design, Benét is constantly planning for the future by bring-ing in young minds with fresh ideas,” Robertson said. “By hosting student tours, such as with Cambridge High School, we hope to inspire and excite students toward a career in science and engi-neering at Benét Labs.” While Robert-son was thinking about the future of Benét Labs, Mike White, a Cambridge High School Technol-ogy and Engi-neering instruc-tor, had other thoughts. “Every year, we like to take students out of the classroom to see firsthand the application of what they have learned in the classrooms,” White said. “What we saw was a phe-nomenal experience for the students because at one location the students could see how a concept is turned into a design and then into a manufactured product.” White also addressed the importance the Watervliet Arsenal has on the community and the na-tion. “For many years, I had thought the arsenal had closed because I didn’t see any vehicle traffic going in and out of the front gate,” White said. “And so, it was a pleasant surprise to see that the arsenal remains

a vibrant manufacturing center with a unique scope and specialized capabilities that support our commu-nity, as well as our nation.” For more than a century, the arsenal’s main en-trance was along what is now today I-787. But af-ter 9/11, the arsenal moved its main gate off of the Watervliet thoroughfare to a side gate to accommo-date extra force protection. To many, when they no longer saw a hub of activity at the arsenal’s main gate

they assumed the arsenal must have closed. It is one thing to get positive feed-back from the instructors, the arsenal kind of expects that, but at the end of the day it is all about the stu-dents. So, what did they get out of their visit? “It was as-tonishing to see the science and intellect that goes into the work carried out by

the arsenal,” said Andy Romack, who is part of class of 2016. “This was definitely an amazing opportunity to not only see the engineering process, but also the arsenal’s great history. As we move ever so further into this mil-lennium, improved

material and technologies developed at the arse-nal will redefine how our men and women are sup-ported in conflicts about the world.” Before the students departed, White said that he would like to bring the class back in the spring to see the rest of the manufacturing center. The students’ visit concentrated on Benét Labs and not on the man-ufacturing side of the arsenal.


Sometimes, standing down is a balancing

act between mission

and well-being

By John B. Snyder

Story continues on page 8, see Safety

The arsenal gave its machines a rare rest this month, albeit for four hours, to accomplish some much needed maintenance. But what a strange sight it was during this maintenance stand down because in place of technical manuals and tool kits … needles, blood pressure measuring devices, fire extinguishers, and a sign up for smoking cessation classes were the tools of the day. After all, this maintenance stand down had noth-ing to do with machines ̶ it was about people. “We wanted to expand the traditional winter safety awareness day to go beyond focusing on injury pre-vention,” said Matthew Church, the arsenal’s safety manager. “And so, we injected a wellness aspect by introducing such topics as blood sugar levels, dis-tracted driving, and for the first time, smoking cessa-tion classes to improve the wellness of the workforce beyond the fence line.” Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr., the arsenal commander, said that as the arsenal reduced its workforce over the

last few years, improving the health of each worker is ever more important to the arsenal’s ability to achieve its mission. “Expanding the scope of our traditional safety day by offering a total wellness program should reduce the number of days away from work that arsenal employ-ees take to recover from an illness or injury,” Schiller said. Beyond the impact on the mission, Schiller said looking out for the welfare of the workforce is the right thing to do, as the training should improve the quality of life of each worker whether they are on or off duty. The training ranged from understanding blood-sug-ar levels to drunk driving prevention to snow blower safety. In all, 11 safety-related areas were trained dur-ing the four-hour training period. One area that had a significant amount of interest was smoking cessation.

Michael Sturgess proves that one cannot walk a straight line at the arsenal, at least not after a few drinks. Sturgess is wearing goggles that simulate a high blood-alcohol level.

Photo by John B. Snyder



Safety Cont.

“Just in the first two hours of the shutdown, we had more than 25 people sign up for a smoking cessation class,” said Melissa Ryder, the program manager for the arsenal’s Child Youth Services and Recreation activity. “This arse-nal-sponsored course should greatly improve the quality of life, as well as the life expec-tancy of all who complete the course.” Arsenal employee John Holzhauer was one of those who signed up for smoking cessation. Holzhauer said that he has been a smoker for more than 40 years and now that he is getting older, he thinks more about his health than he did just 10 years ago. He added that one of the biggest selling points to tak-ing the class now is that the class will be conducted here during his lunch break. The fact that many in the workforce were excit-ed, as well as motivated to take action by the day’s lessons, were all indications that this winter safety shutdown was a success. In fact, the smoking cessation class sign up was such a success that the arsenal will now of-fering a second class. Given the harsh winter of early 2014, combined with the unpredictability of adverse weather in the northeast, moving this winter safety training earlier in the year is expected by Schiller to have a positive impact on reducing injuries in 2015.



Veterans teary eyed, while children jump for joy ...It must be Veterans Day

By John B. Snyder

The City of Albany, whose roots trace back to the early 1600s, is certainly a community of contrasts. But no disparities may have been as obvious earlier this month than seeing old Veterans tear up while children standing next to them were jumping with joy. Truly, this was a strange, but wonderful, site ̶ it was Veterans Day. The Watervliet Arsenal had the great pleasure and honor in this month’s Albany County Veterans Day Parade to lead in Division One, a place of honor. Thousands lined the route, taking a few minutes out of their day, to show their support to the men and women who have proudly served our country. Marching through the center of Albany along the 1.5 mile route took less than 45 minutes. But what a powerful precious few minutes they were. “Prior to the parade starting, I walked up to a Veteran who was wearing his fatigues from the Vietnam era,” said Dan Belk, who is retired from the Army and who now works at the arsenal. “I saluted him and thanked him

Story continues on page 10, see Veterans

At each intersection, on every street, children cheered the arsenal contingent as it marched by. The weather was great for marching, as well as for the very large crowds who lined the parade route.


for his service. Tears came to his eyes, he returned my salute, and thanked me for my service. It made me tear up, too.” From the arsenal’s Operations Directorate, Debra Moody, who has a strong family history of Army service, said that she, too, became teary eyed seeing the older Veterans struggle to stand and render a hand salute as the arsenal contingent marched by. “It truly made me feel great that in some small way I was able to honor those Veterans,” Moody said. “I also liked seeing the kids get excited along the route, showing their enthusiasm for the Veterans.” Kathleen Seeloff, who is also from the Operations Directorate and whose family comes out in large numbers for every parade the arsenal participates in, said that she strongly believes that supporting these types of community events benefits the community and the arsenal. “When I march I feel like I am marching with my arsenal family,” Seeloff said. “We owe it to the Veterans to thank them for their service, but we also owe it to the arsenal to let public know that we are still open and care about their community.” The arsenal, to include the Army’s Benét Laboratories, was well represented by a parade contingent that included two floats, three emergency service vehicles, seven historic military vehicles, a color guard, and, of course, arsenal marchers. As in past years, the arsenal had great support from the Town of Nassau American Legion and from the Hudson-Mohawk Military Vehicles Collectors Club. This was the sixth year the arsenal has participated in the Albany Veterans Day Parade.

Veterans Cont.



TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE. I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE. I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE. NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS. WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND. FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY. THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER. WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I’D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWN UPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE. I COULDN’T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY. THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, “SANTA DON’T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE; I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON’T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.” THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN’T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT’S CHILL. I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT. THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, “CARRY ON SANTA, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.” ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. “MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.”

Anonymous

During your holidays, please do not forget about our customers


Combined Federal Campaign hopes to recover from last

year’s sequestration

We are more than halfway through the Combined Federal Campaign and the arse-nal’s CFC Chairman, Thomas Mulheren, wants to take a moment to say Thank You for your support.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Mulheren said that he is pleased that so many people have stepped up this year to donate, but that the arsenal can certainly do better. Last year’s CFC campaign was tainted by the effects of sequestration, such as furloughs and a government shut down, which caused donations throughout the federal work-force to decline.

But it’s not too late to give, because the campaign will run until December 8th. Mul-heren urges you to consider an investment in the CFC to help improve the quality of life for many. Your investment is a personal decision and any amount is appreciated. Keep in mind that you may spread your donation out throughout the year with the con-venient option of payroll deduction.

Snapshot: Arsenal product in use this month

Dragoon troopers assigned to Charlie Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment fire an M777 howit-zer during the Field Artillery Squadron Range at Grafenwoehr Training Area located near Rose Barracks, Germany, Nov. 19, 2014.

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